The Osceola times., 1887-01-29
WASHINGTON LETTER

l
WASHINGTON, ID. G., Jan. 10, 1887
The passage of the great Inter
State Commerce bill, which is tn
result of a popular movement begin
ming twenty years ago, marks TIN
past week in Congress. There wa
a good deal of important Legislation
besides this, however, such as tha
giving the Agricultural Departmen
Executive Importance and its Chic
a seat in the Cabinet; that extirpat
ing the hierarchy at Salt Lake City
and that doubling the militia appro
pristion for the year. This last ac
will, doubtless, be we'll received ev,
erywhere; for the time has come
when it is acknowledged that the
citizen soldicry of the land ought to
receive more attention than has ever
vet been shown them.
1t was expected that the Senate
would settle the vexed question OF
Commerce by Railroads as it did,
about the hour Of midnight on Fri.
day, hut no one knew how many
more Senators would be found sup.
porting than opposing the bill. II
came trinmphantly through by vote
of forty-three to fifteen, although a
number of Senators who vLted for
the measure were dissatisfied with II
These decided to set aside their own
views and follow the dictates Of their
constituents, saying in this instance,
where Legislation is necessarily ex.
per'mcutal. it is safe 10 give the peo-
pie ,hc benefit uf the doubt.
The ln,erstate COnmcrc, TN was
framed and pr ssed forward by mcr
who were mostly honest il their ell
fort to relieve the people, but there
are a good many Legislators who
doubt its efficacy. Some say the
railroads will put up their through
frcights instesd ofrcducing their way
fr' lights, and thus insure the equality
which the law demands.
Now that tn. Anti. Mormon bill
has been passed by the house, ON,
hears good many comments which.
indicate an appreciation Of The sever
iiy Of the measure. 1t MT only
makes p"lygamy felony, but dis
solves the financial corporations
known as the Latter Day Saints, and
the Perpetual Emigrati'n Fund Com
pany, aud practically abolishes all
the machinery, religious or political
that is now employed directly or in.
directly in the maintainance of tn,
Mormon Church system. There ar,
differences Of opinion as to the wis
dom and justice Of the policy, bu
the friends of the measure just pass
ed assume that the malady is Of sucl
q terrible nature as to require heroic
treatment. Its opponents say j
would be better to wait upon th,
slow attritions of time and the press
ure Of public opinion to wear th'
evil out.
The Republicans pledged them
selves to eradicate pclygamy in 1856
more than thirty years ago. The,
held power for nearly a quarter Of
century, aud as Mormonism still
fourishes it is left for the Democrat
to perform a duty which the Rcpub
licans neglected or else could not do
OF course everybody desires tina, tn
"twin relic of barbaris,n" shall b,
destroyed, If it can lie done withuu
s'raining the Constitution. Hon
Randolph Tucker, of Va, who re
ported the Anti Mormon bill, hell
that there was nothing in it tina
could hurt the conscience even of
Mormon. II he thought there was
he said he would vote against it.
The State reception at the Whit
House on Thursday evening wa
gorgeous in the gold lace Of tn
guests Of honor, the Diplomati
Corps, with music, gaslight, flower
and palms on every side, a crush q
richly costumsd women and 4 crow
Of famous men, many Of them il
brilliant uniforms. Beside the off
cisl world Of the Capital, about sixt,
persons in private life were invite'
to the reception. Among thcs. wa
noticed Mrs. Frank Leslie, and j
was Difficult: to decide whether sh
or Mrs. Stanford, the wife of tn
Senator from California, wore III
largest or the finest or the creates
numtSr of Diamonds.
The Marine band which furnishe